"What?"
Obito stared, his face sullen.
He knew he hadn't performed perfectly.
Especially with the sword issue...
Why did the teacher have an extra sword?
There was a sword hilt exposed how was he supposed to notice that?
"Mr. Jingyi, isn't this a bit too strict?"
Yuhi Shinku said in a low voice.
Obito's performance might be slightly below Chunin level, but compared to most Genin, he was already very good.
"No," Jingyi shook his head. "Konoha could face war again at any time. It's natural to have high standards. Obito, if this were a real battlefield, I would need you to fool the enemy. At your current level, you'd already be exposed."
Jingyi's words were blunt, leaving no room for argument.
Obito nodded repeatedly, not daring to refute.
He was still pondering Jingyi's words when he suddenly heard a faint sound.
Reacting instantly, Obito formed a seal.
Dong dong dong~
Several pieces of chalk flew through the air, striking the wooden log produced by his Replacement Technique.
"You still got hit," Jingyi said. "If this were a battlefield, you would have been injured... Alright, you're dismissed. Don't discuss the test with the other students. If you do, you'll automatically fail."
"Yes!"
Obito looked uneasy but didn't dare to question further.
It was late, after all.
As he left, Tekuno, another student, turned back and stared at Jingyi for a long moment before asking carefully, "Teacher Jingyi, are your standards... a little too high?"
"No," Jingyi answered without hesitation. "They should be able to meet this standard normally. If they can't, it's a matter of mental strength. Students with poor psychological resilience will become liabilities on the battlefield."
Tekuno was speechless.
They usually have this ability?
Good grief... They're all elite Genin material already!
But even so...
This exam was way beyond the normal graduation standard!
Tekuno clenched his fists, remembering that if he had been tested under these conditions back then, he would have definitely failed.
Way too difficult!
Especially that first level.
The combination of the Transformation and Clone Techniques didn't just test technical skill it required intelligence gathering, observation, and quick analysis. Clearly, Obito lacked in that department.
But even so, his abilities already surpassed many Genin.
Maybe this is the advantage of being a Uchiha... Tekuno thought.
---
Next candidate.
"It's the same setup," Jingyi said calmly.
Tekuno stiffened slightly upon entering.
If it were any other teacher, I might have thought I could pass easily... but with Jingyi...
No chance of coasting through.
"Old rules—begin."
"Yes!"
Immediately, Tekuno mobilized his chakra and used the Transformation and Clone Techniques in combination.
At first glance, everything looked flawless.
But Jingyi's sharp eyes quickly spotted the flaw
That exposed sword hilt again.
Who would notice that under normal circumstances?! Tekuno thought bitterly.
Besides that, the execution was practically perfect.
Even a civilian student having such a level of mastery was impressive.
Tekuno couldn't help feeling shocked.
---
Later, several other civilian students came through.
Without exception, just as Jingyi had said, all of them performed better than Obito.
"So Obito really is at the bottom?" Yuhi Shinku muttered.
"I wouldn't say that," Jingyi said. "Obito's straightforward personality makes him weak in detailed observation. But he's excellent with large-area ninjutsu and shuriken skills ideal for direct combat."
Jingyi took a sip of water.
Minato's team was carefully selected.
Obito and Rin were responsible for head-on engagements, while Kakashi specialized in assassination and clean-up.
Each member's strengths fit the role perfectly.
Of course, this was an elite squad.
Ordinary Genin teams were rarely so well matched.
A team full of taijutsu specialists, like Might Guy's future team, was extremely rare.
---
"Huge Fireball Technique?"
Yuhi Shinku immediately caught the hint.
Large-scale ninjutsu.
For Obito, at this stage, that mainly meant the Fireball Jutsu.
Jingyi nodded.
Yuhi Shinku and Tekuno fell silent.
On the surface, Obito might seem weaker than the others, but in a real fight, most candidates couldn't match him.
That said, his fundamentals were still shaky.
He was highly specialized very good at some things, lacking in others.
---
As the test continued, they grew more and more shocked.
The overall quality of this class was frighteningly high.
Regardless of whether they came from civilian backgrounds or ninja clans, these students' standards far exceeded those from previous years.
In fact, in basic ninjutsu like the Clone and Transformation Techniques, many civilians were outperforming clan heirs!
To be blunt
Aside from combat experience, these kids were already at Genin level.
Why?
Not because they were born geniuses.
Except for a few outliers, most students' talent levels were similar year to year.
The real difference
Was their teacher.
Jingyi.
In just one month, he had raised ordinary students into near-Genin level ninjas.
Incredible.
Yuhi Shinku, a veteran who had guided countless Genin and Chunin, understood just how rare this was.
Most Jonin couldn't achieve that even with years of teaching.
How did Jingyi do it?
Yuhi couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Jingyi, if you don't mind me asking... how exactly are you teaching them? Why are all the students performing so well?"
---
"This?" Jingyi smiled.
"It's simple. I only teach part of the class directly. I introduce new ninjutsu to a few advanced students and let them teach the others. Advanced students drive the less advanced. They push each other forward."
Yuhi Shinku was stunned.
Peer-driven learning?
This method worked wonderfully for young, flexible students.
But for older Chunin or Jonin with established habits and pride, it would be almost impossible.
Still...
If this approach were applied at the academy level...
It could change everything.
"Could this be implemented in the Ninja Academy?" Yuhi asked, thinking carefully.
"Not by the current Academy teachers," Jingyi said immediately. "Most Academy teachers are only Chunin. They don't have the authority or ability to make it work. But if Jonin were invited to supervise the final months before graduation, it could work essentially a 'pre-graduation boot camp.'"
He spoke casually, but the implications were huge.
Military-style training.
Simple and extremely effective.
There are so many successful examples of this from my previous life, Jingyi thought.
Yuhi Shinku was stunned.
Invite Jonin to run training camps before graduation?
It was a road no one had thought of before.
But thinking carefully, the idea had enormous potential.
Most Academy teachers lacked the prestige or strength to command absolute respect from their students.
Jonin, however, would.
And there was solid proof Jingyi's class.
In just one month, he had done what others needed years for.
Yuhi Shinku thought for a long moment, then said seriously, "Mr. Jingyi, I would like to write a formal proposal based on your methods and submit it to the Third Hokage. Would you be willing to support this?"
"Of course," Jingyi smiled.
Why not?
I'm not the one writing it and if it earns me some merit points or rewards... even better!
In fact, Jingyi was already thinking
Maybe every year I can 'harvest' a little credit this way.